SMEs are the backbone of the European economy. Of the approximately 20 million SMEs in Europe, one third is active in the field of commerce. Given the important role they play in the European economy, SMEs in commerce deserve the undivided attention of the European Institutions.

This SME day is an opportunity for the commerce sector to exchange views with the European Commission, Parliament and stakeholders on three major challenges that our SMEs face in their daily business life: bureaucracy, access to appropriate markets and partners, and the promotion of entrepreneurship spirit.

Programme

Moderator: Christian Verschueren, Director General, EuroCommerce

14h00: Welcome address

Betty Van Arenthals, Chair of the EuroCommerce SME Committee

14h10: Keynote address

Massimo Baldinato, Member of Cabinet, Commissioner Tajani, European Commission

14h30: Panel I - Improving competitiveness of SMEs, the smart regulation agenda

• Jürgen Creutzmann, MEP, ALDE
• Elisabeth Golberg, Director for Smart Regulation, Evaluation, Impact Assessment and Application of EU Law, Secretariat General, European Commission
• Heinz Werner, Founder, Heinz Werner GmbH (children and teenager jeanswear)
• Fulvio Facchera, Owner, NERD (new express restaurant & daintiness)

Q&A

15h30: Panel II - Boosting the spirit of entrepreneurship

• Marko Curavic, Head of Unit, Entrepreneurship, DG Enterprise and Industry, European Commission
• Anrico Maat, Jumbo Supermarkt (independent food retailer)
• Imelda Vital, Head of EU Office, Amway
• Nikos Sofianos, General Secretary, Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Q&A

Coffee break

16h45: Panel III - Internationalisation of SMEs

• Christos Kyriatzis, Deputy Head of Unit, International Affairs, DG Enterprise and Industry, European Commission
• Jens Nagel, Managing Director, International Affairs, BGA
• Pier Luigi Rinaldi, Owner, Raineri (extra olive oil and bio products)

Q&A

17h45: Closing remarks

18h00-19h00: Networking cocktail

Time and place

10 October 2012, 14h00 to 18h00, followed by a networking cocktail

Hotel Renaissance, Rue du Parnasse 19, 1050 Brussels

For further information, please contact:

Géraldine Verbrugghe
Adviser SME policy
verbrugghe@eurocommerce.be
T: +32 2 737 05 87